Industry Trends: Pet
1/26/2016

Americans own more pets than at any other time in history. Not only is pet ownership increasing, but people are spending far more on pampering their pets. For most people, pets truly are family. This industry has experienced significant growth – even surviving the recession - and the outlook is positive in the long-term.

70-80 million dogs and 74-96 million cats are owned in the United States. Approximately 37-47% of all households in the United States have a dog, and 30-37% have a cat. (*ASPCA)

92% of pet owners spent the same or more on their pets during the most recent recession period. (Forbes)

The pet industry is the seventh largest retail industry in the U.S., exceeding the jewelry, candy, toy and hardware industries. (Forbes)

Pet Trends

Services — Services represent a small, but profitable and growing, segment of sales for pet stores. In the past five years, retail prices rose more than 10% for pet services (like boarding and grooming), and almost 20% for veterinary services. Services also generate store traffic, increasing the potential for sales of pet products. (*Hoovers)

Humanization — More than ever, owners think of their pets more like children or friends, driving demand for premium products and services. Americans spend more on pet supplies than on toys or video games. Lavish spending has fueled growth in specialties such as gourmet pet food, deluxe pet hotels, and pet photography. (*Hoovers) Manufacturers have introduced pet food products that mimic popular human culinary trends such as the Paleo diet and the raw food movement. The expanding selection of gourmet products helped spur a 45% increase in premium dog food sales from 2009 to 2015. (*Bloomberg).

Pet Insurance – Growing vet bills can result in significant and unexpected costs for pet owners. Pet insurance – which works similarly to medical insurance – is becoming more and more popular among owners. Prices for certain veterinary services run well into the thousands:

Pet OpportunitiesLuxury Goods — Humanization and exposure of celebrity pets culture has resulted in demand for luxury brand name products. Leona Helmsley left $12 million to her dog when she passed in 2007. High-end mainstays like Chanel, Burberry, and Coach all make dog collars and leashes. With intense competition at the low end of the market, small, independent pet stores can differentiate from large chains by stocking unique, high-end products. (*Hoovers)

Costumes – In 2015, 20 million people were planning on dressing up their pets for Halloween resulting in $350 million spending. One in five millennials will dress their pets compared to 13% of all adults. (*National Retail Federation)

Natural and Organic Food & Treats — In 2007, the FDA initiated a massive pet food recall as contamination led to illness and death in thousands of pets. (*FDA) In response, sales of organic and natural pet foods are increasing in the US as more consumers worry about contamination and unhealthy ingredients in mainstream brands. Even the appearance of being more natural (free from artificial colors or flavors) can improve a pet food’s brand image and command a higher price point, even if the product is not truly organic. (*Hoovers)

Private-Label Market — A significant number of retailers stock private-label pet foods, which are often more profitable for retailers than branded products. Wal-Mart’s private-label products represent a significant portion of the total US pet food market. (*Hoovers)

Health and Wellness – 55% of cats and 54% of dogs are obese. (*U.S. Pet Market Outlook) This present a host of opportunities for offering products and services aimed at healthier pet lifestyles. Providing a year-round health and wellness display with rotating product categories is a great way to keep shoppers engaged. A specific month could feature the best cat and dog supplements, and another could educate shoppers about new wet food additives on the market. Other themes might be healthy skin and coat products, oral health or grain-free food options. (*PetAge.com)

2016 Pet Efficient Program Planning Session (EPPS)

Join ECRM for the Pet EPPS taking place April 25-28, 2016 at the Westin Chicago Northwest in Itasca, Illinois. For more information about this event contact Melinda Young at 440-248-2190 or MCYoung@ECRM.MarketGate.com.

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